Engine will no start up and run?

Tiny
COLBYDDYLAN
  • MEMBER
  • 1989 CHEVROLET TRUCK
I was driving down the road and all a sudden I my truck died and now it turns over but wont fire.
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Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008 AT 12:59 PM

35 Replies

Tiny
PETER J. MACZIK III
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
First check all your fuses. Next check to see if your fuel pump is running. Put your ear on the gas tank and have someone turn your key forward but don't start it.

This guide should help

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

You should hear the pump running for 3 or 4 seconds.
If it does't run unhook the wire harness down by your tank. You can hook up a 12-volt power source to your wire harness coming off your fuel pump, it should run, if it doesn't you probably need a new one. If it does run, check for power from the engine side of your harness. No power, check your fuel pump relay. I would buy a new one, they're not that expensive and you will no for sure it's not that. If your fuel pump does work, check to see if you are getting fuel to your carb. If your are not, check your fuel line and fuel filter. If your getting fuel, check for spark on one of your spark plug wires. No spark, check for spark from ignition coil to the distributor. Do these checks and get back to me and I'll help you more.
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Saturday, February 14th, 2009 AT 7:30 PM
Tiny
AUSTIN1967
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1989 CHEVROLET TRUCK
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 167,000 MILES
The truck will sometimes stall and then not start when hot. Also, you can shut it off when hot and it will not start. The truck will restart after it cools. Additionally, you can give the truck a small spray of Starting Fluid and it will restart and the engine will remain idling. However, when you try to move the truck it will move 30 to 40 feet, stall and not restart.

The truck has had a fuel pump recently installed. Both the fuel pressure and spark have been tested and are okay.

This truck has the 5.7L (350) Throttle Body Fuel Injection with 3 spd auto transmission and AC.

Any Ideas?
Thank you!
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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 6:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Hi
Suspect injector problem hook up timing light with truck idleing point light at inj. Is pattern 360 deg?
Let me know
Thanks for donate
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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 6:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AUSTIN1967
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
This truck has Throttle Body Injection. Do you mean to point the timing light down into the throttle body to check the spray pattern?

Thx!
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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 6:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
That is correct
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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 6:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AUSTIN1967
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Checked both injectors with timinig light. Spray pattern looks good for both injectors.

Checked both injector circuits with Norbit Lite loaner test kit from AutoZone. Test indicates that injector circuits are okay.

Other ideas?

Thanks!
Smitty
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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 6:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RIZIERI1968
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1989 CHEVROLET TRUCK
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 123,789 MILES
I drove to work parked came out to go to lunch truck would'nt start no fuel pressure checked for power and ground at pump that was ok replaced pump. Ran fine the rest of the day and next morning, than started run poor no power hard starting, the next day it was a no start again no fuel again still had power and ground put another pump in still no start no fuel and still had power and ground bounced the rear of the truck pump stated working and started drove home fine half hour later no start kicked the back bumper and tried again and started. The pump is an aftermarket carter pump.
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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 6:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PETER J. MACZIK III
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
Did you check your fuel filter? Buy a new one, they're cheap and you no you can rule that out of the equation.
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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 6:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
What was fuel pressure? Was spark a blue/white spark about 1/2 inch?
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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 6:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NO1DC
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 1989 CHEVROLET TRUCK
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,000 MILES
It start it runs but won't stay start the engine will lope run smooth then almost quit. It will do this some of the time other times it will die but will restart over no problem. We check the following they were all fine, timing, egr, fuel pump, fuel filter, pcv. Injector seem to be spraying fuel you can here them working. We can't hear any vacuum leaks there new distributer cap and roader bug, alternator and starter ! Was wondering if could be Electronic control module? It act almost like not get enough fuel but it is !
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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 6:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check the fuel pressure if okay-start by checking and cleaning the idle air control valve.
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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 6:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NO1DC
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
I check them two ideals the idle air control valve.

Was bad but still having the same problem I also notice that doesn't want to shift beside other problems!
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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 6:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
What was the fuel pressure readings?

Duplicate the problem or Next time it dies out-do below immediately to determine if its fuel or spark problem

Get a carb cleaner and spray into the carb or the throttle body on an EFI. Did it start and die? If not disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine -have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel problem, check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil, distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors-
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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 6:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NO1DC
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
There rubber hose that inside the gas tank that connected to the fuel pump!
It had small hole in it when the fuel would come out threw the line!
It was only get enough to keep verily running making run so rough!

Did fix more than one problem the check engine light would come on when the engine got warm!
Plus it would start running rough lost of power!

It was the oxygen senor causing that problem!

Thank for all your help!
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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 6:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LIEB59
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1989 CHEVROLET TRUCK
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 94,000 MILES
My 1989 chevy 3500 with 5.7 is hard to start but starts and 10 to 15 seconds later completly shuts down. I have changed the fuel pump, fuel relay, coil, map sensor, temp sensor and new injectors. Its getting gas, it starts it shuts down. Could it be the ECU or the distributor pick up coil, the electric spark control, I have no idea.
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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 6:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Welcome to the forum, Use a gage and check fuel pressure. Engine cranking, can you see injectors spray gas?
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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 6:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LIEB59
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Truck starts injectors spray fuel, everything seems to stop at once. A complete loss of ignition.
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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 6:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
The injectors should spray during the cranking cycle. Doesn't have to be running.
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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 6:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JKEN78
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1989 CHEVROLET TRUCK
  • 153,000 MILES
Put a new fuel pump and getting fuel up to the TBI but not in the intake pulled the TBI off and cleaned it. If I put gas in the intake it will start up then die after it burns that fuel up. Also put a new fuel falter on it to
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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 6:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Scan for codes and see if ignition circuit is sending to tbi if it doesn't it won't start. Also check your wires at tbi to make sure they are connected and not broken
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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 6:01 PM (Merged)

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